He contacted the Daily News earlier this week to report a sulphurous smell coming from the plant.

Mr Felton said doctors had told him health problems had arisen for people drinking water during the hot spell two weeks ago.

He claimed it could be to do with the quality of the water pumped from Connolly Dam.

"There are two things I'm concerned about and the first is the air quality - when it comes out of there it is putrid," Mr Felton said.

"The second is the quality of the water after they've treated it with all the chemicals.

"We're paying for water that's pumped out of the bottom of the dam."

Southern Downs Regional Council director of engineering services Peter See said periods of drought could lead to an odour from water pumped from Connolly Dam to water treatment facilities.

He said the air pollution would be monitored closely and assured water was safe to drink.

"Southern Downs Regional Council normally receives and treats water in the proportions of 70 per cent supply from Leslie Dam and 30% from Connolly Dam," Mr See said.

"A sulphur-like odour can occur with raw water supplies from Connolly Dam when there is a long dry spell, and is likely to be caused by low levels in Connolly Dam and a lack of mixing or turnover of the water.

"The odour will usually dissipate as soon as Connolly Dam receives fresh inflows from rainfall run-off.

"Council's treatment plant operators will monitor the nuisance odour and can manage the situation by reducing the raw water inflows from Connolly Dam.

"There is no issue with the quality of the water after treatment." Mr See said council would consider water restrictions if levels in Warwick's main water source, Leslie Dam, fell below threshhold. "Further restrictions will be introduced if the water supply level in Leslie Dam falls to below 15%," he said.